Adjusting to New Recycling Realities; 5 Ways You Can Help Stop “Wishful Recycling”

What happens to your recycled items these days? That’s a good question as the worldwide recycling market has changed dramatically in recent months, especially due to “Operation National Sword” in China.

Please don't place plastic bags in recycling bins

Plastic bags get wrapped around the rollers and stop the conveyor belt. Workers then remove the bags by hand. Plastic bags that make it past the rollers contaminate the other recyclable materials. Please take bags back to the grocery store, place them in the trash, or choose reusable bags

Reduce / Reuse

Source reduction is the first goal of sustainability; then reuse. Recycling is last. Try to reduce waste in the first place, or reuse items before recycling.

RECYCLE

You should be able to recycle everywhere you go - at home, at work, and at play. If you are concerned that there is no recycling available at a location you frequent, call us at 703-324-5230.

RELATED RESOURCES

Fairfax County has rules regarding how waste and recycling is managed. One important component of the county’s solid waste ordinance is the requirement for residents to separate recyclables from trash for placement at the curb for collection. Both waste and recyclables are required to be collected weekly if you receive collection service at your residence.

I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex

The Filthy Five is a notorious gang committed to trashing recycling! Help Fairfax County foil the Filthy Five’s plans by pitching them in the trash, or implement these alternative reuse and recycling strategies.

Energy Recovery

The I-95 Energy Resource Recovery Facility (E/RRF) located at the county’s I-95 Solid Waste Management Complex in Lorton is owned and operated by Covanta Fairfax, Inc. (CFI). Municipal solid waste (MSW) serves as the fuel for the facility, which is designed and operated in a similar manner to a typical power plant. Steam is produced from the combustion of MSW, and is used to spin turbine-generators that produce over 80MW of electricity.

Annual Recycling Rate in Fairfax County

How much material is collected for recycling annually?

Hundreds of thousands of recyclables are collected annually in Fairfax County. See Annual Recycling Rate for the latest data. Once collected, recyclables are transported to a materials recovery facility for sorting and packaging. Finally, they are sold to manufacturers to make new products.